During the week of September 25th, all pools with the exception of Balboa and Sava Pools are open during our normal operation hours. Cooling lanes for free swim will be available for those who arrive at the Pool for cooling needs. For specific operation hours for each neighborhood pool, please check our aquatics and … Continue reading →

In partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), we celebrate Park and Recreation Month in July by highlighting all of the exciting things going on in your parks over the next several weeks. From concerts in the park to celebrations and free park play day events, SF Rec … Continue reading →

The following athletic fields are closed today, Thursday, June 8, 2017, due to rain/wet conditions. All fields not listed here are open, however, always use good judgement and do not play on fields that are too wet or that have puddles. Moscone Balboa (Sunberg and Sweeney) (Updated at 11:35 … Continue reading →

The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department’s 2016-17 School Year Workreation season is here! Teens, ages 14-18, are encouraged to apply beginning this Friday, August 19. Work up to 10 hours per week, October through April, earning $13 an hour. Flexible schedules in a variety of fields, including recreation, aquatics, … Continue reading →

Our beloved Golden Gate Park turned 146 on April 4! Stop by the Conservatory of Flowers, the Botanical Garden or the Japanese Tea Garden, or simply grab a sandwich and a picnic blanket, and (re)discover the beauty of this 1,017-acre urban oasis.

By Ryan Kelly In honor of Woman’s History Month, we’re highlighting a building located at the San Francisco Zoo that honors the greatest women in the world—our mothers! The Mother’s Building was built in 1925 on land donated by brothers Herbert and Mortimer Fleishhacker to honor their mother Delia’s memory. … Continue reading →

Check out our 2015 Community Report! From the opening of Dolores Park to our Department’s Strategic Plan, Rec and Park has had quite a year, thanks, in no small measure, to the countless people who support our parks and use our parks each and every day.

Hundreds of city kids came out and got their kicks in at the opening of the new Beach Chalet Athletic Fields in Golden Gate Park on December 12. The new fields at the west end of the park will dramatically increase public access to the fields, tripling the amount of playtime there … Continue reading →

Kinesiology students from San Francisco State University are offering free exercise classes at Minnie and Lovie Ward Rec Center every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday as part of 100 Citizens, a program of Cal State Universities in partnership with SF Rec and Park. Get in shape and improve your health! Meet … Continue reading →

Don’t miss the boat on “Stranded,” a fantastic exhibit at the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park, now through October 18. Visitors “wash up” on an uncharted tropical shore to learn the ins and outs of island survival. Stroll through a living jungle of life-saving plants and discover the best sources … Continue reading →

Each week this month, in honor of Women’s History Month, we’ve been highlighting some of the most influential women in Rec and Park history. This week, we take a look at some young women who are about to make their own mark on history as the city’s first all-girls baseball … Continue reading →

We’re celebrating Women’s History Month by featuring some of the most influential and noteworthy women who have played a role in making our parks system the best in the country. This week, we take a closer look at the Pioneer Mother Memorial in Golden Gate Park, the only sculpture of … Continue reading →

A Profile on Dorothy Erskine, Environmental Crusader (1896-1982) By Rebecca Montgomery, San Francisco State University Intern Dorothy Erskine may not be a familiar household name, but it has had tremendous impact on how environmentalism influenced the Bay Area and the consequent urban planning that ensued after the crushing Great Depression. … Continue reading →

Join the SF Recreation and Park Department in celebration of Reboot’s National Day of Unplugging (NDU), sundown to sundown, March 6-7. Get out and play with SF Rec. & Park for fun unplugging activities throughout the day, including volunteer cleanup days, community events, free trail walks, Zumba classes and Mobile … Continue reading →

With gratitude for all the work we’ve done together in support of San Francisco’s treasured parks and with great anticipation for what’s to come, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department invites you all to View our 2014 Community Report here. Get out and play!

Due to the misuse of the site and defacing of park property, SoMa West Skatepark will be closed temporarily on Saturday, January 31, 2015, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. SF Public Works, along with Rec and Park, will be organizing a volunteer cleaning team to remove some graffiti as … Continue reading →

Nature Scene at the World’s Smallest Lake: A Great Egret Across the Street from Our Busy Stanyan Whole Foods Can you even see Golden Gate Park’s “world-class” Alvord Lake on a map? I suppose, but it’s smaller than most ponds IRL. Anyway, here it is, complete with a giant Great … Continue reading →

The Fred Lyon Photography Exhibit at the Harvey Milk Photo Center in San Francisco features rare and amazing photos of the city by the bay. http://wn.ktvu.com/clip/10906557/old-san-francisco-through-the-eyes-of-legendary-photographer-fred-lyon

By Joyce Franklin For inspiration on how to manage the flexibility that accompanies Phase 4 of the Four Phases of Startup Life — the What’s Next? stage that comes after a liquidity event — look to Warren Hellman. After making a fortune as a private equity pioneer, he returned to … Continue reading →

By Jessica Kwong With the help of a Chinatown neighborhood nonprofit, the Willie “Woo Woo” Wong Playground clubhouse is bouncing back from its underutilized state to the busier days of its elevated past. The clubhouse on Sacramento Street, beneath a basketball court and partially tucked below ground level, until its … Continue reading →

San Francisco Marina waterfront has always been a spiffy place, one of the world’s most scenic locations with sweeping views of the bay, the Golden Gate and the Marin Headlands. Now, it’s an award winner. The American Society of Civil Engineers has named the Marina Yacht Harbor Renovation its 2014 … Continue reading →

Paul McCartney’s farewell concert at Candlestick Park is just around the corner on August 14! To make your experience go as smooth as possible, download our stadium/event information hereContinue reading →

Fans had one more chance to say their final goodbyes to Candlestick Park Sunday.The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department held the Candlestick Farewell Community Day for the public. It was the last free admission event before its final closure. The park will be demolished in 2015 to make way … Continue reading →

By Jill Tucker To the untrained eye, the small patch of land at the edge of San Francisco’s Crocker-Amazon Playground looked tidy, with a row of olive trees, some patches of green ground cover and a pretty bush with purple flowers. But the half dozen high school kids armed with gloves … Continue reading →

July is National Park and Recreation Month and it’s time get out and visit one or all of our 220 parks in San Francisco! The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and SF Rec and park are challenging you to take one indoor activity outdoors everyday in July. #JulyOUTisIN Here’s … Continue reading →

Fans of City Insider know we like lists that arbitrarily rank San Francisco compared to other cities. Well, we like them when our city does well, anyway. Add our performance in The Trust for Public Land‘s ParkScore index as the latest to confirm what many San Franciscans already believe: our … Continue reading →

SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX) — Learning to garden in San Francisco just got easier. This month, the city opened its first resource center for gardeners at the community garden in Golden Gate Park. It’s a one-stop shop for city folks who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty. Folks like husband-and-wife … Continue reading →

You might forgive Mexico coach Miguel Herrera if his praise for a certain player slipped into hyperbole. Speaking with reporters in April after Mexico’s 2-2 exhibition draw with the U.S. national team, Herrera was asked about U.S. midfielder Michael Bradley, who in the first half had scored a goal, chipped … Continue reading →

San Francisco is about to experience some Earthquakes. The San Jose Earthquakes will play the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open — open to any and all teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer — at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at San Francisco’s Kezar Stadium in Golden Gate Park. General admission … Continue reading →

A person going from living on the streets to enjoying an all-expenses-paid trip to Europe — where she is called on to represent the United States — is impressive. But to have that person also transform from an invisible human to a valued person with a job and a future? … Continue reading →

Please note: Sunset Recreation Center will be closed from May 18 to June 1 for floor refinishing and maintenance. We’ll reopen on Monday, June 2. In the meantime, please consider visiting one of these other Rec and Park sites: Richmond Recreation Center is located at 251 18th Avenue. Minnie & … Continue reading →

SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) — For decades Russell Breslauer taught students accounting at Chabot College. You might say he knows his way around numbers. Now, this week’s Jefferson Award winner counting to a different beat. You don’t have to be good with numbers to follow along in Russell Breslauer’s class, … Continue reading →

Have you heard? This year marks the last summer at Candlestick Park, and SF Rec and Park is putting together an exciting schedule of events to bid our beloved stadium goodbye. First up, an exhibition soccer match between the U.S. Men’s National Team and Azerbaijan on May 27. Next, the … Continue reading →

SAN FRANCISCO — They are known as the “Legends of Candlestick” ? Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana, along with Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Roger Craig and Dwight Clark will return to Candlestick this summer for the final football game ever at the stadium. The Niner greats will face off … Continue reading →

San Francisco is a city of secrets. Hidden tunnels and bricked-up passageways, sunken ships and rebuilt palaces. With our backfilled downtown, railcar tracks that lead into empty parking lots, and stairways that sneak you from one neighborhood to another, we are the Winchester Mystery House of urban areas. One of … Continue reading →

By Jill Tucker Camilla Fox is fighting an uphill battle against fairy tales and Saturday morning cartoons. Children’s stories often feature wild canines in unflattering roles – the wolf that eats Grandma and the dim-witted and Acme-loving coyote that can’t seem to hit the beep-beeping roadrunner with an anvil. As one of … Continue reading →

By John Wildermuth Dab of paint by dab of paint, the $1.7 million rehabilitation of Coit Tower is moving closer to its April completion. While much of the major roofing and waterproofing work on the Telegraph Hill landmark is either done or in its final stages, a team of art restoration … Continue reading →

San Francisco Recreation and Parks celebrates Women’s History Month! Each week, we highlight some of the women who’ve made an impact on Rec and Park history. When up to 150 girls from all over the city show up to Kezar Pavilion each time the Recreation and Park Department hosts its … Continue reading →

The weather is currently stunning, which usually would mean heading to Dolores Park for some picnicking and people-watching. But with big swathes of the park out of commission for construction and renovation, you may be in need of some other park options. Luckily, there are lots of other parks not … Continue reading →

By Adrian Benepe, Senior Vice President and Director of City Park Development for The Trust for Public Land A recent issue of New York Magazine includes a long story comparing New York City and San Francisco, asking “Is San Francisco New York?” While the piece focused on high tech business … Continue reading →

One of the most popular parks in the Bay Area is about to get a total makeover. By the end of the day Friday, the fences will be up and half of San Francisco’s wildly popular Dolores Park will be closed for seven months. After that, the other half will … Continue reading →

Summer is just around the corner! Register for San Francisco Recreation and Park Department summer camps today. Register online or at 11 sites throughout the city. Click here for registration information or to browse our catalog of more than 60 summer camps, including skateboard camps, art and science camps and Learn-to-Swim programs. Get out and play! Continue reading →

Become a part of San Francisco history- help name our trails at Glen Canyon Park! Beyond Glen Canyon Park’s recreation center, ball field, and tennis courts lies a large urban canyon that has incredible spring wildflower displays, dramatic rock (chert) formations, and Islais Creek, one of the few remaining free-flowing … Continue reading →

In honor of Women’s History Month, San Francisco Recreation and Parks is featuring some of the many women who have made a profound impact on our parks and programs. In the 1970s, 10-year-old Rachelle Henley (née McCann) would take her baseball glove to the local park every afternoon and wait … Continue reading →

By John Wildermuth (Photo via sfgate.com) The thousands of visitors who cover just about every inch of lawn at Dolores Park on sunny weekends will have to squeeze a little closer for the next 14 months. The Mission District park, one of the city’s busiest and most popular recreation sites, is … Continue reading →

Maintaining beautiful, green park spaces in drought conditions is no simple task, and as an agency that stewards over 4,000 acres of public park land and as one of the largest water users in the city, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department takes its responsibility to conserve water seriously. … Continue reading →

February 16, 2014– It has a classic Japanese Tea Garden, two lakes, a botanical garden, a Conservatory of Flowers, a golf course, soccer fields, a carousel and lots more. Golden Gate Park in San Francisco is a 1,017-acre oasis of nature and beauty– and it serves the city’s residents and … Continue reading →

Get ready to sign up for Spring classes on March 1! This spring, we have tons of offerings for your entire family, including yoga and fitness classes for adults, arts and sports for kids, and dance classes for seniors. Browse our spring catalog, or find out how to register online … Continue reading →

According to the 2014 Dignity Health CityBeat Poll presented by the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, 38 percent of San Francisco voters believe that the condition of the City’s parks is getting better. Each year, the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce releases a poll to determine the public’s confidence in … Continue reading →

To the surprise of absolutely no one, a San Francisco restaurant and hotel owner will take over as the operator of Coit Tower when the city landmark reopens in April. Terry Grimm, who owns the anchor Oyster Bar in the Castro and the Kenwood Inn and Spa in Sonoma County, … Continue reading →

When Coit Tower reopens in April after a six-month face-lift, the Telegraph Hill icon will have a new look and a new operator. After nearly a decade of often rancorous discussions, a nasty 2012 election scrap and plenty of grudging compromises, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission is set Thursday … Continue reading →

San Francisco golfers won another round Thursday when the City Planning Commission agreed to move ahead with construction at the Sharp Park Golf Course, despite complaints from environmentalists. The commission rejected a call to require a full environmental impact report on the project, an expensive process that can take months to … Continue reading →

By Jessica Kwong The several dozen community gardens and various green spaces that have sprouted around San Francisco will finally come under a streamlined management. The Urban Agriculture Program announced by the Recreation and Park Department on Wednesday will coordinate all activities related to urban agriculture, which at its most … Continue reading →

The new budget season has begun! Join us for an upcoming community budget meeting on January 27, at Palega Recreation Center, or February 3, at Cabrillo Playground, from 6-7:30 p.m. Hear our initial plans for the upcoming year, tell us your budget priorities, and find out more information on the … Continue reading →

Our Annual Community Report for the 2012-13 Fiscal Year is now available. Click on the link below, and please take a few moments to look through it and please, share it with your friends and family. The report is a summary of everything Rec & Park did during the course … Continue reading →

Want to witness history live and in person? SF Rec and Park celebrates the end of an era by offering you the opportunity to WIN a pair of tickets to the San Francisco 49ers’ last regular season home game at Candlestick Park on December 23. Simply “like” us and post … Continue reading →

For a drab, bone-chilling, windswept punching bag of a stadium, Candlestick Park enjoyed one hell of a good run. The Stick hosted two World Series, two major-league All-Star Games and eight NFC Championship Games. Joe Montana and Jerry Rice spun their magic on the soggy field alongside the bay, as … Continue reading →

Get ready! Don’t miss registering for some of the best SF Rec & Park programs this Winter! Choose from hundreds of classes for the entire family, including Zumba and fitness classes for mom and dad, singing and dance for adults 55 and better, and swim lessons for the kids. There are … Continue reading →

As we prepare to close out our Farewell Season at Candlestick Park, we are pleased to announce in partnership with the San Francisco 49ers, the unique opportunity to purchase actual seats from the stadium 49ers have called home since 1971. Now is your chance to bring home this one-of-a-kind collector’s … Continue reading →

By Evan Borders SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — City officials joined the San Francisco Recreation & Park Department and members of the community Thursday, December 5th, for the lighting of San Francisco’s official holiday tree, located outside historic McLaren Lodge. Not only was the tree lit, but 40 tons of snow was … Continue reading →

San Francisco’s parks and public lands are getting a much-needed makeover from the very people who use them, as the city’s Recreation and Park Department works to expand its volunteer program. On any given day, dozens of people – young, old and in-between – are out in the open air, making … Continue reading →

SAN FRANCISCO— The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department and city officials, including Supervisor Malia Cohen, joined hundreds of Portola District friends and neighbors today in celebrating the reopening of Palega Recreation Center, a neighborhood favorite. The 80-year-old park and recreation center recently underwent a $21.2 million makeover, thanks to … Continue reading →

SAN FRANCISCO – Today, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, YP, Levi Strauss & Co., CBS EcoMedia and community members celebrated the grand opening of the new Golden Gate Park CommUNITY Garden. The garden, located at the east end of the park near Kezar Stadium, was created to meet … Continue reading →

In conjunction with NBA Cares Week of Service and the #GSWCountdown to Opening Night, the Warriors hosted a Day of Service at McLaren Park in San Francisco on October 21. Warriors’ players Toney Douglas, Marreese Speights, Dewayne Dedmon and Joe Alexander joined Golden State executives and fans teamed up to help … Continue reading →

By: Sam Whiting, SF Chronicle Ride the 37-Corbett up 14th from Market and you will be greeted at San Francisco’s Buena Vista Park by a set of three new wooden benches that look so inviting you’ll want to get off the bus and try them out, regardless of your final destination. … Continue reading →

Please pardon our sod. After a summer of hosting the America’s Cup Village during the world’s finest sailing competition, the Marina Green is in need of renovations. Brand new turf will be in place by mid-winter 2014 for you to enjoy—until then please stay outside the fenced area to let … Continue reading →

San Francisco loves its open spaces, and the city’s Recreation and Parks Department has been pumping lots of money into renovations and new projects. The majority of these projects were funded by the 2008 or 2012 San Francisco Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond, the more recent of which was … Continue reading →

We want your family snapshots! Dig through your old photo albums, pull some gems off your fridge, and scour your digital archives! Harvey Milk Photo Center is searching high and low for photos that represent the many forms and facets of family within the Bay Area LGBT and straight ally … Continue reading →

No place in San Francisco is growing faster than District Six, that curious mix of hip SoMa and gritty Tenderloin stretches of town. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, its population grew by 35 percent over the past decade. But there’s one thing that hasn’t been growing there, despite an explosion … Continue reading →

Fans of McLaren Park, the 317 acres of open space spilled across a ridgeline in southeast San Francisco, often use the words “potential” and “future.” The problem is, this has been the case for generations. So when boosters tout the virtues of a park that not long ago was known … Continue reading →

By Joe Rosenheim Wednesday, Sep 18 2013 Nestled among the tall eucalypti that populate Visitation Valley’s McLaren Park is one of the weirdest and trickiest municipal golf courses you’re ever likely to see. It’s abutted by housing projects, patronized religiously by a group of local diehards across the socioeconomic strata, and unknown … Continue reading →

SECOND BREAKFAST AND A PARK CLEAN-UP GETS IT DONE by Lauren Hartman Phil Ginsburg, SF Rec and Park General Manager made a surprise appearance at the Dolores Park Works/Bi-Rite Breakfast and a Park Clean-Up on Monday morning. Phil thanked everyone for turning out and told us that volunteers are essential to Rec and … Continue reading →

Dear Camp Mather Friends and Families, As approximately 4,500 dedicated fire personnel grapple to contain the Rim Fire in the Yosemite area that has now burned over 192,000 acres, we wanted to continue to send updates regarding the status of Camp Mather, for which so many of you have expressed … Continue reading →

By: Peter Hartlaub, SF Chronicle The newsroom is a hardened environment, full of gallow’s humor and remarkably free of mourning — sometimes when there’s a pretty good reason to mourn. But there are also a lot of old school San Franciscans here who take their traditions seriously, and the Rim … Continue reading →

As the San Francisco 49ers begin the final season at Candlestick Park, Ken Bastida looks at the history of The ‘Stick and how football and baseball were not the only events that shaped this Bay Area icon. Check out the Candlestick Park tour and interview video here.

By Gail Todd, SF Chronicle Second in size only to Golden Gate Park and with better views, 318-acre McLaren Park has been San Francisco’s neglected stepchild. Named for John McLaren, superintendent of Golden Gate Park for an astonishing 53 years, the park is surrounded by the Excelsior, Visitacion Valley, Crocker-Amazon and … Continue reading →

SF Rec & Park hosts haiku poetry contest in honor of this weekend’s festivities SAN FRANCISCO— The sixth annual Outside Lands Festival in Golden Gate Park kicked off today, marking the beginning of a much-anticipated weekend of music, art and the best culinary offerings the city has to offer. This … Continue reading →

August 20th CAC meeting CANCELLED due to lack of quorum. Next meeting: Tuesday, September 17th, 6 pm, St. Mary’s Recreation Center Auditorium Calling Alemany Farm CAC members and Interested Stakeholders! The Recreation and Park Department is seeking applicants for the following seats on the Alemany Farm Community Advisory Committee (CAC): Seat 2: Neighborhood resident. While … Continue reading →

Wishing you had tickets for this weekend’s Outside Lands Music Festival? It’s not too late! Test your poetry skills and be the envy of your friends by submitting a Haiku describing why Golden Gate Park is the Best Place to be this Weekend. First place winners will receive 2 one-day … Continue reading →

By: Andrea Koskey The return of the Outer Richmond’s Cabrillo Playground over the weekend is just the beginning of a wave of upgraded parks reopening in neighborhoods citywide. After eight months and $4.5 million, the Cabrillo project has brought renovations to the playground and upgrades to the clubhouse; donations brought … Continue reading →

On June 26, five Friends of Glen Canyon Park volunteers played hooky and took a field trip. They put aside their familiar canyon tools and headed for Golden Gate Park. Welcomed to the Recreation and Park’s nursery on Martin Luther King Drive by Licia De Meo, a Rec and Park … Continue reading →

Ed Lee became the first Asian-American mayor of San Francisco in January 2011 when he was appointed to complete the term of Gavin Newsom, who became lieutenant governor of California. Lee was elected mayor in his own right in November 2011. He previously served as city administrator and director of … Continue reading →

By Marisa Lagos, SF Chronicle San Francisco is finally getting free Wi-Fi – at least in 31 city parks. Six years after a deal to blanket the city fell apart, Supervisor Mark Farrell and Google will announce a plan Wednesday to bring public wireless Internet access, on the technology company’s dime, to parks, recreation … Continue reading →

Join District 1 Supervisor Eric Mar, San Francisco Recreation and Parks, Friends of Cabrillo Playground, the San Francisco Parks Alliance, city officials and Richmond District neighbors in celebrating the official reopening of Cabrillo Playground on August 3, at 12 noon. This new $4.5 million playground was made possible by San … Continue reading →

SF Rec and Park unveils its newest playground, created for a changing neighborhood Contact: Sarah Ballard Mobile:(415) 971-3070 E-Mail: sarah.ballard@sfgov.org SAN FRANCISCO– Today, the Zynga.org Foundation, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, the Friends of the Waterfront Playground, and San Francisco Parks Alliance celebrated the grand opening of the … Continue reading →

By Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY At 39, Maia Hendel might seem a tad old to be heading off to camp. But she has been practicing camp songs and thinking about canoe trips right alongside her sons and husband. They’re all eagerly preparing for “family camp” on Aug. 3. Such sleep-away … Continue reading →

In collaboration with an international movement, Rec & Park cultivates healthy communities SAN FRANCISCO— With the start of National Park and Recreation Month this past weekend comes the beginning of a new program for San Francisco Recreation and Parks: Healthy Parks, Healthy People. In partnership with Institute at the Golden Gate, … Continue reading →

A deteriorating playground in the Richmond district is poised for a major rehab effort as part of a $3.15 million project spearheaded by neighborhood leaders and city officials. The Mountain Lake Park playground is more than 30 years old and has many outdated and dilapidated amenities, despite being visited … Continue reading →

Finding courage. Learning you have a brain. Going home. Oz isn’t the only place that kind of wizardry happens, Gina Sykes-Purdiman, 21, discovered. Sometimes it’s on a rubber soccer pitch, like the one set up this weekend at the Embarcadero’s Embarcadero Plaza. It wasn’t ruby slippers, but a royal blue soccer … Continue reading →

Registration for summer programs is going on now! This summer, we have something for everyone, including tot classes, swimming lessons, dance and fitness classes for adults, and a wide array of programs for seniors. Click here for more information on how to register and to search for a class.

Great news! Travel + Leisure Magazine has just named Golden Gate Park as one of the world’s most beautiful city parks. Here’s to all of you who love your city parks, and here’s to all of the men and women who work every day to keep it sparkling. Get out … Continue reading →

The City has announced plans to host the Street Soccer USA West Coast Cup, a tournament to raise awareness for homelessness and bridge the gap between our various communities, in June. The tournament will include homeless teams from cities across the nation, playing and competing with corporate teams. The San … Continue reading →

Mother’s Day Photo Contest! Win a pair of tickets for you and your mom to an upcoming San Francisco 49ers game or the 2013 Outside Lands concert, plus other neat prizes! Simply send in a photo of you and your mom enjoying one of our parks to rpdinfo@sfgov.org, by Sunday, … Continue reading →

Great news! The California Coastal Commission voted unanimously today to uphold the permit for the Beach Chalet Athletic Field renovation project at the West End of Golden Gate Park, perhaps the most vetted public project in Rec and Park history. The Commission’s vote means the renovation project can move forward … Continue reading →

Great news! The American Institute of Architects San Francisco Chapter (AIASF) has awarded its 2013 Citation Award to Hayes Valley Playground, which was renovated in partnership with the Trust for Public Land. Read more hereContinue reading →

On May 22, 2013 the City and County of San Francisco Board of Supervisors will consider approval of a San Francisco Recreation & Park Department (RPD) project to acquire a parking lot located at 3861 24th Street (between Vicksburg Street and Sanchez Street) with the intention of converting the property … Continue reading →

In celebration of Golden Gate Park’s 143rd Birthday on April 4, rediscover what this 1,017-acre city jewel has in store for you. From gardens, special attractions, museums, sports fields and facilities and an array of recreation and dining options provided by our partners, Golden Gate Park is the perfect destination … Continue reading →

Earth Day at Bernal Hill on April 20 Join the SF Recreation and Parks and REI for Earth Day this year at Bernal Hill to help restore habitat and trails. On April 20th from 9 a.m. to noon, come for a vigorous morning workout removing invasive radish from the hillside … Continue reading →

Summer is just a couple of short months away. Have you made plans for your kids this summer? Discover what’s in store for your child this summer, including more than 70 different day camps— traditional camps like Silver Tree and Pine Lake, as well as new camps like Lacrosse and … Continue reading →

The city’s Greenagers Program is looking for 9th and 10th grade students who either live in or attend high schools in the following neighborhoods: Bayview, Bernal Heights, Crocker Amazon, Excelsior, Hunters Point, Mission Terrace, Outer Mission, Portola, Silver Terrace, or Visitacion Valleyand are willing to: Meet three Saturdays a month … Continue reading →

Here’s some good news for those on the go! Extended spring/summer park restroom hours are now in effect. All park restrooms will be open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. every day during the spring/summer months.

On March 22, members of the Public Utilities Commission, Rec and Park, and Friends of Jefferson Square Park celebrated World Water Day and the recent completion of significant water conservation projects at three city parks–Jefferson Square, Alta Plaza and Balboa Park. These improvements will save the city 5 million gallons … Continue reading →

The Weather Channel has just released its list of America’s Best Public Parks and our very own Golden Gate Park makes the list! “An oasis in the city, Golden Gate Park offers trails to walk or hike, playgrounds, picnic areas, lakes, dog-friendly areas, museums, a carousel, and even Segway tours … Continue reading →

SAN FRANCISCO— Golden Gate Park, San Francisco’s 1,017-acre crown jewel, has been named one of America’s Best Public Parks by The Weather Channel, which cited the park’s abundance of walking and hiking trails, lakes, playgrounds, picnic areas, dog-friendly areas, museums and other park amenities. The Weather Channel is a national … Continue reading →

SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department (RPD) unveiled today a newly approved design for the restroom at Portsmouth Square, one of the most heavily-used and popular parks in the Chinatown neighborhood. On Monday, March 4th, the SF Arts Commission approved the conceptual design for the Portsmouth … Continue reading →

SPRING REGISTRATION BEGINS SATURDAY, MARCH 2. Choose from hundreds of classes for the entire family, including Zumba and fitness classes for mom and dad, sports and arts for kids, and aquatics courses for the grandparents. This spring, get out and play with Rec and Park. Browse our Spring Activities Guide … Continue reading →

Golfdom Magazine features Rec and Park’s very own Wayne Kappelman, superintendent of Sharp Park Golf Course in Pacifica, Calif., and the winner of the 2013 Herb Graffis Businessperson of the Year award. Read how Wayne and his crew work tirelessly to keep one of the Bay Area’s most beautiful recreational … Continue reading →

Valentine’s Day Contest: Like us on Facebook and receive a chance to win a couple’s photo shoot at one of our top romantic park spots, to be scheduled at a later date. The winning couple will also receive a framed 16”x16” stretched canvas photo from the photo shoot. Three runners … Continue reading →

The San Francisco City Golf Championship, the oldest consecutively- played golf tournament in the world, will begin with the Men’s Open at Lincoln Park Golf Course on Saturday, February 9, 2013. Pairings for February 9th and future days can be found on the San Francisco City Golf Championship websiteContinue reading →

This February, come see Rec and Park’s Young People’s Teen Musical Theatre Company’s production of “Godspell“, the gospel of St. Matthew told through hippie characters living in New York City in the late-1960s and early-1970s. TICKETS: $15 general; $10 student/seniors can be purchased brownpapertickets.com. For more information, click here, or … Continue reading →

The new Philosopher’s Way trail, dedicated Saturday in San Francisco, meanders through McLaren Park, weaving onto vistas of the city and the Bay Area and into groves of redwoods and cypress… The 2.7-mile trail loop holds expansive views of the region, including Mount Diablo, Mount Tamalpais, Angel Island and the … Continue reading →

Even though the colder weather is upon us, the kids can still go outdoors to play. The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department has started a program designed to bring some extreme sports to local neighborhoods for youngsters to try out… On Saturday, Mobile Recreation will visit Crocker Amazon Park in … Continue reading →

Mayor Ed Lee, Supervisor David Chiu and a group of city officials, including Port officials, Rec and Park Commission President Mark Buell, and Rec and Park GM Phil Ginsburg, cut the ribbon on the new Pier 43 promenade near Fisherman’s Wharf on December 17. The new promenade extends The Embarcadero … Continue reading →

The Neighborhood Empowerment Network’s NEN Awards are returning for their fifth and biggest year on January 9. Produced in partnership with the CCSF Community Challenge Grant Program, The NEN Awards are dedicated to elevating and celebrating the tremendous work that residents and organizations do every day to make our city … Continue reading →

We invite you to view our report to the community for Fiscal Year 2011-12, which provides an overview of the great work our department has been doing during the past year. Read about what’s happening in your parks, our recreation program highlights, and how we’re working to keep your parks … Continue reading →

More than 500 people came out to McLaren Lodge in Golden Gate Park on December 6 to celebrate the Recreation and Park Department’s 83rd Annual Holiday Tree Lighting, an event begun by longtime park superintendent “Uncle” John McLaren, who would light a mile-long stretch of trees on Fell Street, ending … Continue reading →

The 2013 season of the San Francisco Youth Baseball League is right around the corner in March 2013. Registration begins December 6, at 10 a.m. Fees are $80 per player, which includes coaching, uniforms, practice and games. Multiple divisions for both boys and girls, ages 5 through 14. Log onto … Continue reading →

Entering its 54th year, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department’s Workreation Program is a school-year and summer employment, mentorship and training program for all youth who live in, or attend school in, San Francisco. Workreation is open to youth, ages 14-17 (or 18, as long as the student is … Continue reading →

See CBS-5’s report on Rec and Park’s 83rd Annual Holiday Tree Lighting, which was held on Thursday, December 6, 2012. More than 500 revelers came out to enjoy carnival rides, arts and crafts, live entertainment and a visit from Santa. See the entire report here.

District 4 Supervisor Carmen Chu and Hydra Mendoza from the Mayor’s Office, along with 750 of their closest friends from the Sunset District, helped cut the ribbon on the newly renovated Sunset Recreation Center on November 16. The event marked the completion of a $14 million project that transformed the … Continue reading →

Originally opened in 1985, Boeddeker has certainly seen better days, but thanks to the Trust for Public Land, a variety of state grants, and the leadership of people like Betty Traynor, the cofounder of the Friends of Boeddeker Park, the park and its aging clubhouse are set for an $8.5 … Continue reading →

Show your support for SF Rec and Park and do it in supreme style with this unique fashion tee from Jack’s on Chestnut. Every time one of these t-shirts is purchased, $10 goes directly back to supporting the Department’s Youth Scholarship Program, which ensures that youth and families have access … Continue reading →

Join us for a civic celebration to raise funds and friends for San Francisco’s parks, with San Francisco Parks Alliance and the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department. Guests will enjoy fly-casting demonstrations, bourbon & branch, beer, wine and the sounds of bluegrass at the casting ponds beside picturesque Anglers … Continue reading →

Join Supervisors Scott Wiener and David Campos, San Francisco Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg, the City Fields Foundation, neighbors and park advocates for the grand reopening ceremony of Mission Playground. The event will include a ribbon cutting ceremony, music, food trucks, an outdoor picnic and fun games … Continue reading →

Yahoo! Travel names Golden Gate Park as one of the nation’s prettiest parks. Congratulations and thanks to the staff and volunteers who work every day to keep our parks clean, safe and beautiful year round. Get out and play! http://travel.yahoo.com/ideas/america-s-prettiest-parks.html?page=2

After a $3.5 million renovation at one of San Francisco’s busiest parks, neighbors and park users are rejoicing. Balboa Park, one of three parks in the city that the Trust for Public Land is helping to overhaul, is a popular community hub for residents, soccer players, families, students and baseball … Continue reading →

By John Cote Balboa Park, dedicated in 1910, was a destination spot on San Francisco’s southern side for generations of children. Thanks to a wave of efforts, including a recently completed $3.5 million renovation, it is once again. Over the years, the park had fallen into disrepair. Playground equipment wore out and … Continue reading →

Best known for its world-class attractions – the de Young Museum, the California Academy of Sciences and the Conservatory of Flowers – the east end of Golden Gate Park is a great place to spend an afternoon even if you can’t afford any admission tickets. Rich in history and filled … Continue reading →

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)— The city of San Francisco is inviting the public to a couple of Summer Olympics viewing parties at Civic Center Plaza next week. Three Olympians were on hand to help make Tuesday’s announcement from the steps of City Hall. The parties will be held next Tuesday and … Continue reading →

Dolores Park Works and Helen Diller Playground are both nominees for SF Beautiful’s 41st Annual Beautification Awards, which will be announced tonight. Dolores Park Works is a nonprofit park advocacy and service organization that’s been tending the park since 2009; Helen Diller Playground opened to great fanfare in April after … Continue reading →

When you took over the seemingly tranquil Recreation and Park Department, did you ever imagine it would end up being so high-profile and occasionally contentious? Well, I had already spent some time watching Amy Pohler in “Parks and Rec,” so I knew what I was in for. … It’s exactly … Continue reading →

The Chinese Recreation Center, known for years as Chinatown’s unofficial backyard, will reopen Saturday with a new name and a sparkling $21 million building, but the same commitment to providing a spot for sport, play and relaxation in one of the nation’s most densely populated communities. The center “is at … Continue reading →

The Trust for Public Land has just released a national study, ParkScore, concluding that San Francisco has the best urban park system in the country! It is the most comprehensive park rating system ever developed and was designed to help local communities identify where new parks are needed most and … Continue reading →

In accordance with the newly adopted West Harbor Post Renovation Assignment Policy, Marina Management has posted an initial Seniority List for each berth size based on the records we have indicating seniority dates for a continuous Berthing License (Rental Agreement or Mooring License). This Seniority List will be updated if … Continue reading →

On May 21, Mayor Edwin M. Lee participated in a ceremonial renaming of Middle Drive East in Golden Gate Park in honor of Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi to celebrate her 25 years of public service to our City and its residents. Leader Pelosi represents California’s 8th Congressional District in the … Continue reading →

Music fans, what do Stevie Wonder, Metallica, Neil Young, Beck and the Foo Fighters all have in common? These legendary musicians are all part of this year’s Outside Land Music Festival in Golden Gate Park, August 10-12. Visit www.sfoutsidelands.com for more information or to purchase tickets today!

Sign up now for Rec and Park’s 6-on-6 women vs. women dodgeball tournament on June 15, at Eureka Valley Rec Center, 100 Collingwood Street. All teams are guaranteed two games. Register now by calling (415) 831-6810, or by emailing adela.dominguez@sfgov.org.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012 “Playgrounds pocked with toxic equipment would be replaced, rutted basketball courts would be resurfaced, and overgrown trails, worn swimming pools and funky public bathrooms would all be made functional under a plan city leaders unveiled Tuesday to improve San Francisco’s vast network of parks.” Read more: … Continue reading →

Singers, comedians, dancers, bands… Got Talent? If you’re between the ages of 13 and 24 and want to share your talents with the rest of the world, register now for Rec Idol, Recreation and Parks’ first ever summer talent competition. Registration begins June 1, with auditions beginning June 21. Visit … Continue reading →

The mission blue butterfly is making a comeback, thanks to our collective efforts on Twin Peaks, in partnership with San Mateo County Parks and Creekside Science Center for Earth Observation. See the video here: sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com…

What would make a marriage proposal in front of friends and family even more romantic and memorable? A marriage proposal in the heart of San Francisco’s Union Square! (Spoiler Alert: She said YES!) See the video here: www.romanceneverdies.com…

The Recreation and Park Commission has adopted new policies for the management and operation of the San Francisco Marina Small Craft Harbor. New Marina Rules & Regulations were adopted on April 19, 2012, which are now in effect. Also, the Commission adopted a New Post Renovation Berthing Assignment Policy for the re-population … Continue reading →

Thanks to everyone who came out to Sharon Meadow in Golden Gate Park this past Saturday to enjoy our third annual Spring Eggstravaganza family event. Photos are posted on our Facebook page here. Also, a huge round of applause and thank you to all of the men and women from … Continue reading →

Tuesday, March 20, 2012 After years of wrangling, the various groups that call Dolores Park home have agreed on a plan to remake a city green space that has been a victim of its own popularity… "Is everyone happy? It's San Francisco and there are always a lot of different … Continue reading →

Wednesday, March 14, 2012 The Sululagi M. Palega, Jr., Recreation Center is located in the Portola District in the southeastern quadrant of San Francisco. Funding in the amount of $21.2 million comes from the 2008 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond. As a historic resource, the renovation of the Palega … Continue reading →

By John Wildermuth After years of wrangling, the various groups that call Dolores Park home have agreed on a plan to remake a city green space that has been a victim of its own popularity. “Is everyone happy? It’s San Francisco and there are always a lot of different opinions,” … Continue reading →

Five years after asking voters to approve a $185 million bond for parks, The City once again plans to court voters with a planned November bond measure to fix up parks, playgrounds, restrooms, athletic fields and the waterfront. With $1.6 billion in deferred maintenance needs, the Recreation and Park Department … Continue reading →

Monday, April 2, 2012 Community feedback and outreach played a crucial part in the success of the 2008 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond and we're building on that successful framework for this process. We'd like to hear from you and receive feedback about what is currently missing from your … Continue reading →

Monday, April 2, 2012 Community feedback and outreach played a crucial part in the success of the 2008 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond and we're building on that successful framework for this process. We'd like to hear from you and receive feedback about what is currently missing from your … Continue reading →

By Tom Stienstra What you’ll see: Lake Merced is San Francisco’s backyard lake, park and fishing hole, yet it’s worth the trip from anywhere in the Bay Area. It is a great destination for jogging, easy bike rides with kids, picnics and golf. Lake Merced is near the San Francisco … Continue reading →

Friday, March 9, 2012 Thousands of daily commuters, weekend visitors to the Academy of Science and de Young Museum, and explorers of Golden Gate Park will be enjoying 1.5 miles of separated bikeway on the eastern half of JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park in a matter of weeks! The … Continue reading →

Tuesday, March 13, 2012 We've streamlined our park restroom hours! All park restrooms are now open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., now through the summer. When it comes to providing clean, accessible facilities, Rec and Park is Number One!

Friday, March 9, 2012 (Re)discover the Lake Merced experience. The SF Chronicle's Outdoor columnist Tom Stienstra features all of the great activities you can do in and around San Francisco's backyard lake. Read more: www.sfgate.com…

The Restroom Repair and Replacement program funds the construction, repair, and renovation of restroom facilities. Many of the city park’s restrooms are old, need repair and are poorly designed for maintenance and proper supervision. Following the passage of the 2008 Clean & Safe Neighborhood Park Bond, the Recreation & Parks … Continue reading →

After a full year of participatory community design in 2011, the proposed Dolores Park Rehabilitation Plan is ready for commission and environmental review and then implementation. The Dolores Park community worked intensely through the fall to complete the proposed Rehabilitation Plan. In the final community design workshops, participants resolved the … Continue reading →

During December the project reached a milestone with the completion of the pile driving and installation of the Phase 1 docks, the installation of the north ADA gangway the completion of the sheet pile breakwater. The harbor office has closed for renovation and the harbor staff has be relocated temporarily … Continue reading →

BERNAL HEIGHTS TRAIL RESTORATION COMMUNITY MEETINGS The Recreation and Park Department will be hosting a series of community meetings to discuss the future trail restoration improvements to Bernal Heights Trail. Your input is important to us and will help us improve the Bernal Heights Trail in a way that is … Continue reading →

Click here for event flier Including Samuel – A film by Dan Habib Tuesday, January 10 – 6:00 to 9:00 pm The Bay Theater at the Aquarium of the Bay, Pier 39 Join us and enjoy these Program Highlights: • 6:30 film screening followed by Q&A with Dan Habib • … Continue reading →

December 10th Community Meeting Recap 12.13.2011 Thank you to all who attended Saturday’s community meeting! We had a great turn out, and we received a lot of helpful feedback, which will continue to inform us as we move forward with the Glen Canyon Park renovation. For those of you who … Continue reading →

By Gerry Shih After listening to more than an hour of tributes and emotional testimony Thursday morning, the San Francisco Park and Recreation Commission voted unanimously to rename Speedway Meadow in Golden Gate Park in honor of Warren Hellman, the ailing financier who has long been one of the park’s … Continue reading →

Thank you to all who attended Saturday’s community meeting! We had a good turnout, and we received a lot of helpful feedback, which will continue to inform us as we move forward with the Glen Canyon Park renovation. For those of you who were unable to join us on Saturday, … Continue reading →

By Robin Wilkey Last week, famed skateboarder Tony Hawk kept skating in San Francisco alive with a $10,000 donation to the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department to support the construction of the new SOMA West Skate Plaza at Mission Street and Duboce. The park is part of the SOMA … Continue reading →

By Joe Rosato, Jr. Far longer than there’s been a Golden Gate Bridge, Treasure Island or Coit Tower, there were bison roaming Golden Gate Park. The first herd moved into a pen in the park’s Music Concourse in 1891, and to its current west-end digs in 1899. But following the … Continue reading →

November in-water construction activity focused on the installation of the Phase 1 docks. A permit amendment was granted to extend the in-water work window into the first two weeks of December so that Dutra can wrap up pile driving. By December 15 we should see the Contractor’s barges leave … Continue reading →

Progress that was made this week includes: The Contractor continues to make good strides this week on the concrete flat work. Crews formed and poured the bridge abutments, walls at the sand table, finished pads for the climbing wall, net anchors and slabs this week. Work on the irrigation lateral … Continue reading →

It’s been an exciting month for the Community Opportunity Fund! At the end of October the Recreation and Park Commission approved the award of ten Round 2 projects! From stairway beautification at Lincoln Park to an adult fitness area at Boeddeker Park, these projects are a diverse bunch! We’ve also … Continue reading →

Join us for the annual lighting of the venerable Monterey cypress tree at McLaren Lodge in Golden Gate Park, a city tradition, Thursday, December 8, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., featuring small rides for children, live entertainment, a cookie factory, arts and crafts, and a visit from Santa. Free. … Continue reading →

It is with great pride and pleasure that the Recreation and Park Department announces that Steve Castile, our Golf and Turf Manager, has been selected to received the 2011-2012 MFAC Public Managerial Excellence Award! MFAC (The Municipal Fiscal Advisory Committee) is a partnership between the City and SPUR (San Francisco … Continue reading →

The Recreation and Park Department is soliciting proposals from qualified respondents to lease and manage concession opportunities at Coit Tower in San Francisco. The Tower is an international landmark and offers magnificent views of San Francisco Bay, as well as the City, both from lower viewing areas and the observation … Continue reading →

The San Francisco Chronicle came out with a great piece on the Nocturnes Night Photography group, who are having their 20th Anniversary celebration and exhibit at Harvey Milk Photography Center on November 9th… The piece features Stever Harper, who was the first night photographer to teach the craft. Harper’s work, … Continue reading →

In San Francisco, our park gardeners are some of the hardest working city employees out there, helping to maintain our park spaces at an extremely high level. Volunteers are crucial to our success. Last year, we relied on 141,000 hours of volunteer time to improve our parks and programs. Here’s … Continue reading →

The November 12th Community Meeting to discuss Glen Canyon Park’s renovation is just around the corner! We hope you can join us to check out the park’s new design and share your preferences for new playground equipment! Thanks to all for coming to the series of community meetings we had … Continue reading →

KCBS’s Barbara Taylor reports: SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) – A red-tailed hawk that was found shot in the head with a nail gun in San Francisco last month was released back into the wild Wednesday after recovering at a San Jose animal hospital. The injured hawk, a female juvenile that … Continue reading →

Bike About Town: Golden Gate Park on 2 Wheels What’s the best way to see Golden Gate Park? On a bike, naturally. Just ask the hundreds of tourists who take to the park on their rented bikes each weekend, the surfers who ride through the park with boards attached to … Continue reading →

What’s the best way to see Golden Gate Park? On a bike, naturally. Just ask the hundreds of tourists who take to the park on their rented bikes each weekend, the surfers who ride through the park with boards attached to their beach cruisers and the kids who learn to … Continue reading →

October in-water construction activity focused on the installation of the fixed sheetpile breakwater. Reports received so far indicate that waters are noticeably calmer in the outer harbor since the breakwater was placed. Work on the breakwater will wrap-up by mid-November with the installation of the concrete cap. The first barge load of concrete … Continue reading →

On Wednesday, October 26th, the San Francisco Planning Department released the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Beach Chalet Athletic Field Renovation. The draft report is meant to identify and assess any environmental impacts of our proposed renovation of the Beach Chalet soccer fields Read More…

Here’s the buzz on Stow Lake’s new food offerings, from the InsideScoopSF blog (SF Chronicle): “Speaking of salad, the Vietnamese inspired rolls at the newly opened Stow Lake Boathouse are winners. They

McCoppin Square, an 8.9-acre park in San Francisco’s District 4, reopened today after a $3.8 million renovation. The project is the first to be completed under the Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond, which voters overwhelmingly supported in 2008. The project was completed $1.5 million under budget, a direct result … Continue reading →

The Trust for Public Land (TPL) and neighbors joined city officials for the official groundbreaking of Balboa Park, a 25-acre park located in the Excelsior neighborhood, an area with the highest concentration of children in San Francisco. The renovation of Balboa Park has long been a priority for the city … Continue reading →

Looking for something cool and exciting for your kid to do during the winter break? Try one of our popular winter camps, a refreshing alternative to those wintertime blues, including EcoAdventures Camp, Tennis Camp, Indoor Rock Climbing, a Wild West camp and swimming. Camps run Dec. 19-23 and 27-30. Visit … Continue reading →

(via Bay City News) The San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission approved Thursday to name a Chinatown recreation center after a local Chinese-American flight attendant who died in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. According to department officials the commission unanimously approved to name the center at 1199 Mason St. as … Continue reading →

(via SF Chronicle/SFGate) This week’s dining escapades took me from a lunch at the Stow Lake Boathouse to dinner at the refined Acquerello. A few of the places aren’t worth mentioning, but a couple are worth mentioning again and again, starting with Park Tavern, home of the dancing chicken. I’ll … Continue reading →

SAN FRANCISCO– San Francisco Recreation and Park Department (RPD) announced more than $1 million of Community Opportunity Fund (COF) was awarded to ten different neighborhood projects today. Community Opportunity Fund program is funded by the 2008 Clean and Safe Parks General Obligation Bond. This $5 million capital program allows residents, … Continue reading →

The San Francisco Recreation & Park Department would like to announce new restroom hours for all stand-alone restrooms throughout our park system: Spring/Summer Hours Opened no later than 8:00 a.m. & closed no earlier than 8:00 p.m. February 15th through the end of Daylight Saving Time (Last Saturday in November) … Continue reading →

Congratulations to the Sharon Art Studio in Golden Gate Park for winning Bay Area Parent Magazine’s Silver Award for Best Art Class in San Francisco and the East Bay. The Sharon Art Studio provides an array of affordable classes in ceramics, glass, jewelry, drawing and watercolor for youth (ages 5 … Continue reading →

The Mission Dolores Rehabilitation Workshop scheduled for Thursday, October 13th has been rescheduled to Thursday, October 20th because we recognized that the public may not have been adequately notified of this particular meeting. The final workshop is still scheduled for Thursday, October 27th. The time and place of both workshops remains the same: 6:00 in the … Continue reading →

by Rachel Gordon With a newly sanded and stained dock, a fresh fleet of boats and a revamped menu featuring vegetarian spring rolls and Salvadoran pastries, the new vendor who took over the food and boat rental concession at Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park is set to open Wednesday. … Continue reading →

New welcome signs are being installed this week in Dolores Park. These are the standard welcome and park rules signs that are used throughout the parks system. The new signs will be installed in locations at 18th and Dolores, 19th and Dolores, and 20th and Church.

A new bicycle rental program is launching in San Francisco on Tuesday. The launch of ParkWide Bike Rentals, which is launching five bike rental sites around the city, will be celebrated with an inaugural ride in Golden Gate Park with Mayor Ed Lee and other city officials. Bike rentals will … Continue reading →

SF’s Potrero Hill Playground Reborn Nita Winter / Trust for Public Land Playing in Potrero Hill City and county officials gathered last week to celebrate the grand re-opening of the Potrero Hill Playground, the newly renovated play area found in a corner of the Potrero Hill neighborhood park. “We are … Continue reading →

SF’s Largest Urban Farm To Celebrate 20 Year Anniversary Today by Bay City News October 8, 2011 9:58 AM In the shadow of Interstate Highway 280, for the past 20 years people have been tilling the land on a steep hillside below St. Mary’s Playground in San Francisco. Alemany … Continue reading →

Glen Canyon Park Join us! Come give us your input! Thanks to all for coming to the series of community meetings we had to identify top priorities for improvement to Glen Park. In the last meeting held this summer, we presented those items proposed for renovation with the Clean and … Continue reading →

The playground is beginning to take shape, though still somewhat conceptually. The crews are working quickly to get the all the subsurface infrastructure in place before the rainy days set in. The outline of the curving entrance drive is now clearly discernible by to the concrete form-work for the retaining wall will bank it … Continue reading →

The Mission Playground renovation project is progressing and some of the new improvements will start to take shape in the coming weeks. The new sports lighting will be installed starting Oct 6th. These new lights are more energy efficient than the old ones and provide better light distribution for the sports areas … Continue reading →

Please join us for the McCoppin Square ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday, October 22nd at 11am. Thanks to SF voters the park was renovated with funds from the 2008 Clean & Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond. The renovation includes a new playground that features both a Tot Lot and school-aged play areas, … Continue reading →

The Park That Almost Never Was The tale of Sue Bierman Park By Joe Rosato Jr. | Tuesday, Oct 4, 2011 | Updated 4:53 PM PD If ever a piece of land had the odds stacked against it, it would be San Francisco’s Sue Bierman Park. Just over two decades … Continue reading →

Located on the corner of Steiner and O’Farrell Streets, Raymond Kimbell Park is one of the most highly used play areas on the north side of San Francisco, and until recently it was one of the most dilapidated, due to constant overuse of the fields combined with the abusive weather … Continue reading →

The first half of September has been quiet around the SF Marina Renovation job site, but that doesn’t mean significant progress isn’t being made. At the Kie-Con yard in Antioch, crews are working feverishly to form, pour and hand-finish the concrete dock sections that will begin arriving on-site for installation … Continue reading →

The entire community will have the opportunity to review and refine the Dolores Park Rehabilition Plan at two final workshops on Thursday, October 13th and Thursday, October 27th in the Mission High School Cafeteria (the universally accessible entrance is on Dolores St. just north of 18th St.) Both meetings will … Continue reading →

The San Francisco Recreation & Park Department would like to introduce you to John Moren, our new Harbor Master at the Marina Yacht Harbor. John is a Certified Marina Manager with a wealth of expertise in the marine industry that includes marina management and significant operations experience at marinas and … Continue reading →

As part of our MLK Drive Repaving project in Golden Gate Park, we have moved construction on the Stow lake Drive segment of the project to next week (September 19-23), instead of the week of October 11-15. Starting next Monday (9/19), and through Friday (9/23), Stow Lake Drive will close … Continue reading →

The Oak Woodland Trail Restoration project is moving forward. On September 15th the Recreation and Park Commission approved the Oak Woodland Trail concept plan that was developed with input from community members. The project will now begin the design development phase and is anticipated to begin construction in 2012. Oak Woodlands Trail concept … Continue reading →

By Eileen Keremitsis, Special to The Chronicle Above the Haight is Buena Vista Park, San Francisco’s heavily forested hill and a favorite with dog walkers. It’s as old as its famous near-neighbor Golden Gate Park, and both have significant stands of coast live oak forest – a refreshing retreat from … Continue reading →

The Recreation and Park Department is hosting a series of community meetings to discuss future trail restoration improvements to the Twin Peaks Trail. Your input is important and will help us improve Twin Peaks Trail in a way that is most beneficial to the community. The meeting schedule: Community Meeting #1 – … Continue reading →

After a temporary closure last week due to a faulty pump, Balboa Swimming Pool is now open for business. Please note: regularly scheduled maintenance on Balboa Pool will occur September 26 through October 24.

by Stephanie Lee The windmill at the southwest end of Golden Gate Park is, at long last, getting the wind back in its sails. After undergoing nearly a decade of restoration, a shiny copper dome weighing 64 tons was placed atop the Murphy Windmill on Monday. The act capped off … Continue reading →

For the month of September, Flax Art Supply on Market & Valencia streets features the work of five professional artists who are also teachers at the Sharon Art Studio in Golden Gate Park (www.sharonartstudio.org). The Sharon Art Studio, San Francisco’s largest public art center, has offered art classes for youth, … Continue reading →

Hi Everyone – We are excited to report that the Recreation and Parks Commission voted to recommended that the Board of Supervisors accept the Trust for Public Land’s gifted services and improvement plan for Glen Canyon Park at their August 18th meeting, and directed RPD Staff and the design team … Continue reading →

San Francisco — The longtime vendor of the Stow Lake boat rental and snack bar concession said Thursday he will end operations at the close of the busy Labor Day weekend, handing the city a victory in a protracted legal and public relations battle. “Monday’s it. We’re shutting down,” said … Continue reading →

Whether it’s parks, outdoor activities or a city’s promise to be environmentally friendly, Safeway will reward the winning city’s commitment to being natural by donating $20,000 to its local parks and recreation department. Log on to your Facebook account and vote for San Francisco today. http://www.facebook.com/Safeway

A baseball signed by the mayor, a Muni bus pass, a beaded coin purse, photos and a gold coin are just a few of the mementos that will be tucked into a time capsule buried at the Chinese Recreation Center, which was razed and is being rebuilt. City officials will … Continue reading →

The longtime vendor of the Stow Lake boat rental and snack bar concession said Thursday he will end operations at the close of the busy Labor Day weekend, handing the city a victory in a protracted legal and public relations battle. Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/01/BAFO1KV0I6.DTL#ixzz1WkPvQWQ4

On last Thursday evening at Mission High School, over 100 Dolores Park community members gathered to review and revise the first draft of the Mission Dolores Park Rehabilitation Plan (click link below). The draft plan was the first attempt to bring together all the collective planning the community has done … Continue reading →

Below is a summary of the recent construction activities associated with the Playground Renovation project: The Contractor has completed the rough grading, with the exception of the hillside just south of the play area where new irrigation lines connecting the new system to the existing are yet to be installed. … Continue reading →

Back in 1959, Jack Hirose partnered with the Recreation and Park Department to become the Japanese Tea Garden concessionaire. While his official business concluded in 1992, he remained active in supporting the garden. On Aug. 18, the Rec and Park Commission unanimously approved of renaming the tea house the Jack … Continue reading →

By Ken Garcia Most everyone agrees that San Francisco is a small town, so it might surprise you that its eastern border is 180 miles away. That would be the area that houses The City’s oldest building, a magnificent outpost that is home to bears, coyotes, lush meadows, dramatic waterfalls … Continue reading →

On Thursday, August 25th at 6:30PM in the Mission High School Cafeteria, the Dolores Park project team will present the first draft of the Dolores Park Rehabilitation Plan. The goal of the session will be to review the draft plan to be sure it captures the desires community members expressed in … Continue reading →

The Glen Canyon Trail Restoration project is moving forward. On August 18th the Recreation and Park Commission approved the Glen Canyon Trail concept plan that was developed with input from community members. The project will now begin the design development phase and is anticipated to begin construction in 2012. Glen Canyon … Continue reading →

Just in time to enjoy San Francisco’s best weather, Food & Wine Magazine has named Golden Gate Park’s Shakespeare Garden as one of America’s best picnic spots. Paired with gastronomic delights from the Moss Room at the Academy of Sciences or from Sam’s Chowder Mobile at the Bandshell, the garden, … Continue reading →

RPD General Manager Phil Ginsburg explains how partnerships are preserving our city parks and programs and dispels the myth that access to our parks and facilities is somehow limited because of them. For the complete op-ed, visit here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/08/10/EDRP1KL1DT.DTL

August 10, 2011 By Margaret Baum Like other parents of autistic children, classical musician Stephen Prutsman faced the challenging task of finding summer activities for his son to participate in. So he came up with the idea of a camp suited to such children. Prutsman, who approached the San Francisco … Continue reading →

SF Rec and Park wins FOUR Best of the Bay Awards from the SF Bay Guardian, including Best Camp for Kids (Silver Tree); Best Skate Spot (Potrero del Sol); Best Public Sports Facility (Kezar Stadium); and Best Garden Variety Historical Hotbed (SF Botanical Garden Succulent Garden)! A lot to be … Continue reading →

The SF Examiner highlights one of our favorite new programs, Camp Azure at Glen Canyon Park, for children on the autism spectrum. Get out and play! Read the article here: http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/2011/08/autistic-children-learn-valuable-life-skills-camp

The secret’s out! After 10,000 votes, San Francisco Magazine readers have chosen Golden Gate Park for three awards: Best Biking Action, Best Kids Park Action and Best Getaway Action. Get out and enjoy Golden Gate Park’s 1,017 acres today.

Below is a summary of the recent construction activities associated with the Playground Renovation project: The Contractor continues to do rough grading of the site. Excavation for the foundation footings is underway. Trenching and installation of subsurface utilities is in progress. Mock-ups of the boulder retaining walls are being constructed … Continue reading →

I am sure many will be happy to hear that Phase I dredging activities concluded last week. As previously reported, Dutra Construction secured a permit to perform dredging using 24-hour shifts. This reduced the time that the dredge barge and scow were on site from a forecasted 3 to 4 … Continue reading →

Discover what SF Rec and Park has in store for you this fall, including hundreds of classes and programs for the young and young-at-heart. Classes run through December 15 and include aquatics, waterfront sports, arts and digital media, dance, sports, skateboarding, fitness classes and outdoor recreation. Also, check out our … Continue reading →

SF CHRONICLE Foes of new North Beach Library – enough already! C.W. Nevius, Chronicle Columnist Thursday, August 4, 2011 The opponents of the new North Beach Library have gone through an unfortunate progression. They began with legitimate concerns, fell back to thoughtful disagreement, and now they’ve moved on to tin-foil … Continue reading →

As we enter the crucial decision making phase of the Dolores Park Rehabilitation Project planning process, now is a great time to review the notes, materials and results of Workshops 1 and 2. If you didn’t have a chance to participate in the earlier sessions, these materials will get you all … Continue reading →

EXAMINER Booting crazy measures takes all the fun out of San Francisco ballot By: Ken Garcia | Columnist | 08/04/11 4:00 AM University New Mexico football player Deshon Marman was arrested in June over his allegedly inappropriate low-hanging pants on a US Airways flight, sparking debate over freedom of fashion. … Continue reading →

Mayor Edwin M. Lee joined the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department on August 2 to cut the ribbon on the newly improved bocce ball courts at Crocker Amazon Park. The event was part of a National Night Out event at the park, hosted by the San Francisco Police Department … Continue reading →

Hi folks! As we announced at the last meeting, we will be headed to the Rec Park Commission this month to accept the gift of the improvement plan provided by Trust for Public Land and start the process of the final community outreach and design for the first -funded! – … Continue reading →

The third Dolores Park Rehabilitation Project community workshop will be held this Thursday, August 4th at 6:30PM at Everett Middel School, 450 Church St. between 16th and 17th. The workshop entrance is off the school parking lot located on 17th St. just west of Church St. The entrance and meeting … Continue reading →

In August, the RPD and the Dolores Park Rehabilitation Project Steering Committee will be hosting two important workshops to set the direction of the Dolores Park Rehabilitation Plan. The workshops will be held Thursday, August 4th and Thursday, August 25th at 6:30 at a location near the park to be announced … Continue reading →

Below is a summary of the recent construction activities associated with the Playground Renovation project: Contractor commenced surveying and staking of the site last week. Tree removal commenced last week and will be completed in 2 to 3 days. The fence has been moved so that the Palms are now … Continue reading →

Continuing its celebration of National Park and Recreation Month, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department cut the ribbon today on a new and improved Carrousel Plaza in Golden Gate Park after a $1.25 million renovation project. The project, supported in large part by $960,000 in Proposition 40 grants from … Continue reading →

KCBS San Francisco Parks Receive Major Donation From Coca Cola July 5, 2011 2:50 PM SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – The San Francisco Parks Trust Fund received a major shot in the arm on Tuesday, as city officials were presented with a check for $250,000 from Coca Cola. The San Francisco … Continue reading →

EXAMINER Purists want San Francisco Rec and Park to pull cash off trees By: Examiner Editorial | 07/04/11 9:44 PM California’s brand-new budget is set to shut down 70 state parks. Oakland has virtually abandoned dozens of its parks and San Carlos outsourced its park maintenance last year. In San … Continue reading →

SF CHRONICLE CITY INSIDER BLOG Bison euthanized, but seven more on the way One of the five bison living in Golden Gate Park was euthanized today, after suffering an apparent illness, zoo officials said. But seven new buffalo will join the herd by the end of the year, bringing the … Continue reading →

Zip 680 feet across Embarcadero Plaza, 80 feet above the ground. Catch beautiful views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge and the city below.The zipline is a partnership between the Recreation and Park Department and Ziptrek Ecotours and follows the successful trial of the zipline last April. Ziptrek … Continue reading →

Saturday, July 2, 2011 A series of newly restored trails at Corona Heights Park has just reopened, just in time for hikers to enjoy the summer! The newly designed and restored trails allow visitors to have safer access to the top of Corona Heights where they can enjoy panoramic views … Continue reading →

Saturday, July 9, 2011 Fresh off last summer’s wildly popular World Cup soccer broadcasts at Civic Center Plaza, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department will again host free, family-friendly viewing parties featuring the best of this month’s FIFA Women’s World Cup matches. Rec and Park will host live broadcasts … Continue reading →

The Recreation and Park Department is hosting a series of community meetings to discuss future trail restoration improvements to the Oak Woodlands Trail in Golden Gate Park. Your input is important and will help us improve the Oak Woodlands Trail in a way that is most beneficial to the community. The meeting … Continue reading →

EXAMINER Baseball star Henley playing out her dream with San Francisco Fillies By: David Liepman | 06/26/11 5:00 AM Rachelle Henley, who played professional women’s baseball with the Colorado Silver Bullets in 1994, is currently with the San Francisco Fillies.Rachelle “Rocky” McCann just wanted to play baseball. This was back … Continue reading →

SF Chronicle Battle over preserving North Beach Branch Library John King, Chronicle Urban Design Critic Sunday, June 26, 2011 Last year, as San Francisco’s Historic Preservation Commission called for the North Beach Branch Library to be declared a city landmark, I argued in print that the structure was nondescript at … Continue reading →

It’s high season for special events in Dolores Park. Last weekend, the park hosted it’s first of the year’s movie nights. This weekend, Pride festivities will be going on , with the Trans March on Friday night and the Dyke March on Saturday afternoon. Due to playground construction, most of the season’s … Continue reading →

Friday, June 24, 2011 The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department has submitted a balanced budget for Fiscal Year 2011-12 that includes NO LAYOFFS, NO NEW FEE INCREASES and NO SERVICE REDUCTIONS. A San Francisco Chronicle editorial on June 24 says, “Recreation and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg has crafted … Continue reading →

BAY AREA REPORTER SF rec and park adds rainbow flag to logo in honor of Pride weekend Thursday, June 23, 2011 San Francisco’s Recreation and Parks Department is showing its Pride this week in honor of the annual LGBT celebration. It has changed the background of its logo – which … Continue reading →

In anticipation of this weekend’s pride festivities a security presence will be on-site to insure that the project site is secured. The Contractor has hired Black Bear Security to patrol the site from dusk to dawn over the weekend, and they will be on hand during the peak event hours … Continue reading →

Wednesday, June 22, 2011 The SF Chronicle’s John King takes a look at the newly renovated Hayes Valley Playground in the Western Addition, an example of the power of partnerships. More info: www.sfgate.com…

Wednesday, June 22, 2011 A food revolution is happening in parks across the country– including in New York and here in San Francisco– offering a diverse group of park users new and interesting food options. More info: www.nytimes.com…

KCBS Radio San Francisco Launches ‘Safe Summer Park’ Initiative June 21, 2011 8:49 PM SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – San Francisco police and city officials are kicking off a safe parks and streets program, officially launching the “Safe Summer in the Parks” initiative on Tuesday. Part of the program is a … Continue reading →

SF CHRONICLEHayes Valley Playground revamp caters to children John King Wednesday, June 22, 2011 The best public buildings, no matter how modest their size, accomplish two things at once. They do the job that people expect and then they go beyond expectations. The new 2,500-square-foot clubhouse at Hayes Valley Playground … Continue reading →

Tuesday, June 21, 2011 Thank you, Hensley “Bam Bam” Meulens, former pro baseball player and current SF Giants batting coach, for coming out to Kimbell Field in the Western Addition on June 21, to show our kids some hitting tips and his shiny World Series ring! Get out and play! … Continue reading →

Over the past three weeks we have seen major changes in the West Harbor. Demolition of about 50% of the existing timber docks has been completed and the Contractor is almost done pulling the abandoned piles. On Tuesday, June 21 dredging of the now vacated areas of marina will begin, … Continue reading →

EXAMINER The Gull Wing Group donates 125 scholarships in honor of 50th anniversary By Cathy O’Brien, San Jose Charity Examiner June 16, 2011 8:59 pm PT The historic Fort Point, which was built during the Gold Rush as a defense location to protect the San Francisco … Continue reading →

EXAMINER Bella sings a swan song, leaving Palace of Fine Arts lagoon By: Bay City News 06/17/11 8:40 AM SAN FRANCISCO — Bella the swan is moving out after receiving a less than gracious reception from her brother and sister-in-law at the lagoon near San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts, … Continue reading →

SF CHRONICLE CITY INSIDER No swan song – Bella back on feet Rachel Gordon, Stephanie Lee, Heather Knight Tuesday, June 14, 2011 Bella the swan is back paddling the waters at the Palace of Fine Arts after a six-week stay at a Point Reyes exotic bird-breeding compound, where she went … Continue reading →

KQED Forum Bay Area Parks in Trouble Mon, Jun 13, 2011 — 10:00 AM Recent budget cutbacks around the Bay Area are threatening regional park operations. We check in with East Bay, San Francisco and San Mateo County park officials about the extent of the problems facing our public parks. … Continue reading →

SF Chronicle Interior Greenbelt Park at top of Mt. Sutro open Kelly Zito, Chronicle Staff Writer Sunday, June 12, 2011 For generations, a flight of rickety steps squeezed between two Cole Valley homes seemed to belong to no one and lead to nowhere. This month, however, San Francisco unlocked the … Continue reading →

Tuesday, June 14, 2011, 10 – 11am SF Rec and Park GM Phil Ginsburg joins other Bay Area park administrators for a frank discussion on the state of Bay Area parks. Listen here: www.kqed.org…. More info: www.kqed.org…

EL TECOLOTE Mission construction starting soon By John Nuño 1:40 pm Friday June 10, 2011 The lazy hazy days of summer are fast approaching, but the air of the Mission District will soon be abuzz with the rattle of jackhammers and the roar of tractors. The face of the Mission … Continue reading →

Monday, June 13, 2011 SF Rec and Park, in partnership with San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, Buena Vista Elementary School, PTA members and students, helped dedicate and unveil “Familia,” a community mural at Potrero Del Sol Park, on June 8. The wall had become a favorite target of … Continue reading →

Monday, June 13, 2011 A throng of boaters and city officials, including District 2 Supervisor Mark Farrell and former District 2 Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier, was on hand on Wednesday, June 8, to celebrate the start of a $25 million renovation of the San Francisco Marina Yacht Harbor’s west basin. Salvageable … Continue reading →

Hi Folks, Thanks again to all of you who came last night – it was a great meeting. We are excited about the plan! We will see you all in the late summer/ early fall to develop the design for the improvements to be funded by the bond funds we … Continue reading →

ABC 7 Stinky flower in full bloom at SF Botanical Garden Thursday, June 09, 2011 SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department is urging people to take the time to smell the flower — the stinky flower. The dead horse lily opened up this week and if … Continue reading →

Synergy Construction Management will be on site, beginning the week of June 13, to install a new temporary driveway near the intersection of Dolores and 19th Street. The temporary driveway will provide site access to maintenance, construction and service vehicles while the permanent road is closed for renovation.

Please join us to for the final presentation for the Glen Canyon Park Improvement Plan on Thursday, June 9th, 6:30-8:30pm at the Glen Canyon Recreation Center. After nine community workshops, a guided trail walk, several focus groups, meetings with city agencies and departments, and countless email and mail feedback from … Continue reading →

KCBS Radio Officials Begin San Francisco Marina Harbor Facelift June 8, 2011 4:52 PM SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – The San Francisco Marina Harbor will figure prominently in the upcoming America’s Cup yacht race, but it’s been in a state of disrepair for decades. That’s all about to change with the … Continue reading →

You may have noticed that the construction fence is now up around the play area in preparation of the playground renovation project. Unfortunately, after only one day a hole was cut in the fencing and fence poles were toppled allowing dozens of park visitors access to the work area. Bauman … Continue reading →

Wednesday, June 9, 2011 Contact: Elton Pon Phone: 415-831-2782 E-Mail: elton.pon@sfgov.org Ceremonial Plank-Pulling Marks Start of Marina West Harbor Project Wood from SF Marina Project Being Donated to Tsunami-Damaged Crescent City Harbor San Francisco — The first renovation of the San Francisco Marina in almost 50 years kicked off yesterday, June 8, … Continue reading →

SF APPEAL San Francisco Celebrates Opening Of Historic Trail And Long-Closed Park San Francisco is celebrating National Trails Day this morning with a grand opening of a historic trail and an open space that have been closed to the public for 50 years, city officials said. The San Francisco Recreation … Continue reading →

On June 30th at 6:30pm in the Mission High School Cafeteria, the Dolores Park Project Steering Committee and RPD will host the second Dolores Park community design workshop. During this session park users and neighbors will vote to determine the priorities of the project and then work in small groups … Continue reading →

Bauman Landscape Construction will install the first section of construction fencing on Friday, June 3. As a result, the playground and adjacent picnic areas will be officially closed to the public. The installation of the temporary access driveway for service vehicles has been delayed. This work is expected to occur … Continue reading →

SF APPEAL Martha, The Palace Of Fine Arts’ New Baby Swan “not afraid to get her feathers ruffled” With three more eggs to go, the first of the Palace of Fine Arts’ latest residents has been hatched. Martha, a baby swan or cygnet, was hatched on Memorial Day. Martha’s mother … Continue reading →

At the 2007 American Sign Language Festival, Mayor Gavin Newsom proclaimed June 9 to be “American Sign Language and Culture Day in San Francisco”. Come to the Project Insight ASL Cafe for a pot luck celebration of Deaf/ASL culture and this beautiful visual language! Thursday, June 9 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. … Continue reading →

The Dolores Park Rehabilitation Project Steering Committee met on Thursday night to prepare for the project’s kickoff workshop on June 2nd. The Steering Committee includes representatives of over 20 park and neighborhood organizations, local businesses and park user groups—from Dolores Park Works and Dolores Park Dogs to the Mission Dolores … Continue reading →

Below is a forecast of the upcoming construction activities related to the West Harbor renovation project: Weeks of May 30 and June 6: Mobilization of the dredging barge and floating equipment barge, utility capping and demolition of vacated docks along the north jetty and west of the Scott Street mole, … Continue reading →

Dolores Park Playground Construction Means Less Park Play for Seven Months By: Octavio Lopez Raygoza | May 22, 2011 – 6:19 am Almost half of the south end of Dolores Park will be closed to the public for seven months while a new state-of-the-art playground is installed, beginning June 1 … Continue reading →

Saturday, May 21, 2011 Get out and play this summer with Rec and Park! Youth summer camp registration is still open and, beginning May 21, you can register for programs for the entire family, including yoga class for mom, basketball for dad and dance class for grandma! Log onto sfrecpark.org … Continue reading →

BAY CITIZEN: Know Your Neighborhood Coyote By Annette Fuentes|May 12, 2011 1:34 p.m. |In Wildlife San Francisco has many interesting residents and none more fascinating, perhaps, than the coyotes who have for the last few years taken up residence in Golden Gate Park and other patches of parkland around … Continue reading →

SF APPEAL: Specialists To Teach Local Residents How To Live With Coyotes by Bay City News May 12, 2011 11:14 AM San Francisco residents will be given a rare opportunity to learn how to cohabitate with coyotes at a free educational talk this evening in Golden Gate Park, according … Continue reading →

BEYOND CHRON Reviving San Francisco’s Failed Civic Center by Randy Shaw‚ May. 10‚ 2011 In her 1961 classic, The Death and Life of Great American Cities, Jane Jacobs observed of San Francisco’s Civic Center that “people stayed away” from it “to a remarkable degree.” Jacobs felt the Civic Center … Continue reading →

Monday, May 9, 2011 Golden Gate Park was built as a retreat from the pressures of urban life. Yet as we know from the traffic, sporadic crime and gathering of homeless tribes, it often succumbs to it…But one feature of the park has resisted the modern onslaught, staying as true … Continue reading →

Monday, May 9, 2011 With the right focus, the right team and an ongoing commitment to the project and the partnership, the public and private sectors can join forces to tackle even the most vexing challenges facing large, urban municipalities… Partnering to bring sports fields to kids. In San Francisco, … Continue reading →

SF APPEAL: New Trash And Recycling Program Kicks Off At Dolores Park by Bay City News May 8, 2011 11:38 PM San Francisco’s Dolores Park kicked off an improved waste and recycling program this weekend, announced the program’s spokeswoman. San Francisco Supervisor Scott Weiner and San Francisco Recreation and Park, … Continue reading →

SF EXAMINER: Golden Gate Park fly casting pools have resisted flood of change By: Ken Garcia 05/08/11 4:00 AM Columnist Golden Gate Park was built as a retreat from the pressures of urban life. Yet as we know from the traffic, sporadic crime and gathering of homeless tribes, it often … Continue reading →

President Obama’s Proclamation on Older Americans Month Older Americans are now living longer, healthier, and richer lives than ever before. As the eldest of the baby boomers turn 65, our Nation can look forward to the contributions of a new generation of American seniors. Each year, we set aside the … Continue reading →

Thursday, June 2nd 6:30-8:30pm Mission High School Cafeteria On Thursday, June 2nd at 6:30, the community will gather for the first of a series of workshops to plan the renovation of Dolores Park. Everyone is invited to participate. At this first workshop, community members will brainstorm a wish list for … Continue reading →

Click here to see the VLOG PRIZE: The person who registers and gathers the MOST pledges will win a brand-new iPad2! To be eligible for the prize, you must have turned in your form listing all your pledges to Tilden 5K registration table no later than June 5th, and all … Continue reading →

With the right focus, the right team and an ongoing commitment to the project and the partnership, the public and private sectors can join forces to tackle even the most vexing challenges facing large, urban municipalities. Partnering to bring sports fields to kids.In San Francisco, the shared vision of three … Continue reading →

SF CHRONICLE Keeping up the San Francisco parks Wednesday, May 4, 2011 San Francisco’s Recreation and Park Department has been caught in a bind for the past two difficult budget years. Faced with consistent budget cuts, the department chose to cut some services – and a large portion of its … Continue reading →

RICHMOND REVIEW (May 2011) Cabrillo Playground to get renovation The SF Recreation and Park Department (RPD) announced in April that a renovation of the 1938-built Cabrillo Playground would begin in 2012. In partnership with the City’s Neighborhood Empowerment Network (NEN), RPD helped facilitate a series of community meetings last year … Continue reading →

Sunday, May 1, 2011 San Francisco’s Recreation and Park Department has been caught in a bind for the past two difficult budget years. Faced with consistent budget cuts, the department chose to cut some services – and a large portion of its administrative staff – and to look for new … Continue reading →

See you at our next meeting at the Rec Center, Thursday, May 5th at 6:30pm! Thanks everyone for coming to our last meeting, April 7th, and providing feedback in person or by email. We very much appreciate everyone taking the time to provide feedback on the project.

Saturday, April 23, 2011 A great time was had by all at our Spring Eggstravaganza event on Saturday, April 23. Thanks to everyone who came out to enjoy egg hunts, magic shows, carnival rides, arts and crafts and some delicious ribs cooked by the men and women from the Fire … Continue reading →

Hello Everyone, We will hold our first Outreach Steering Committee meeting for the Mission Dolores Park Improvements on April 27 at 6:30pm at Dolores Park Church (455 Dolores St). This is not a major public meeting and we will not be presenting design ideas. As we have been meeting with … Continue reading →

Friday, April 22, 2011 On Friday, April 22, Rec and Park’s Natural Areas staff released 60 Mission blue butterflies atop Twin Peaks, the latest step in an effort to restore the butterfly to its native habitat in San Francisco. More info: www.sfgate.com…

Friday, April 15, 2011 San Francisco Recreation and Park Department (RPD) today joined professional skateboarder Karl Watson in outreach to the young people at the Tenderloin Children Recreation Center. Phil Ginsburg, RPD General Manager and Karl Watson partnered together to encourage the youth to be active and pursue their dreams. … Continue reading →

The Rec and Park apprentice gardeners will be working at Dolores Park this week. The new apprenticeship program is the first state certified program for the gardening trade and is an important RPD initiative designed to achieve the best recruitment potential and training of our professional gardener work force. The … Continue reading →

6 porta potties will be arriving on Friday, April 15th to Dolores Park. They will be stationed near the bell at 19th and Dolores. In placing them, we’ve had to look at spots with a level grade and near enough to the perimeter of the park so that they can … Continue reading →

A few notes to start… 1. What has been done so far In November 2008, Mission Dolores Park was identified as a priority site for funding under the 2008 Clean and Safety Neighborhood Park Bond. Also that year, the Friends of Dolores Park Playground (FDPP), a volunteer community organization, joined … Continue reading →

Tuesday, April 12, 2011 "The San Francisco Botanical Garden is among the crown jewels of Golden Gate Park. It offers residents and nonresidents alike the opportunity to marvel at and enjoy an encyclopedia’s worth of unusual plants and flowers in a lovely setting. Naturally, this privilege doesn’t come free. The … Continue reading →

Monday, April 11, 2011 Read the San Francisco Chronicle’s latest editorial on the SF Botanical Garden. According to the Chronicle, fees are a necessary part of maintaining this living museum, which houses 8,000 rare and exotic plants and flowers from all over the world. More info: www.sfgate.com…

Monday, April 11, 2011 Read the San Francisco Chronicle’s latest editorial on the SF Botanical Garden. According to the Chronicle, fees are a necessary part of maintaining this living museum, which houses 8,000 rare and exotic plants and flowers from all over the world. More info: www.sfgate.com…

Friday, April 8, 2011 Support for Families and San Francisco Recreation and Parks present:Access to AdventureExplore fitness and fun for kids and youthwith special health care needs or disabilities! Saturday, May 7, 2011, 12:00 pm-3:00 pmGolden Gate Park Music Concourse Bandshell(Between the deYoung Museum and the Academy of Sciences) Kids … Continue reading →

The Recreation and Park Department and The Trust for Public Land hosted a series of community meetings in January through March to gather input on trail improvements within Glen Canyon Park. Together with the community we identified areas for improvement﻿﻿ and developed a conceptual plan for the proposed trail improvements. … Continue reading →

PRO SKATEBOARDER KARL WATSON GIVES BACK TO TENDERLOIN SF Rec and Park Invites Waston to Talk with Youth at Tenderloin Rec Center WHAT: San Francisco Recreation and Park Department (RPD) in joint efforts with professional skateboarder Karl Watson to talk with young people in Tenderloin and encourage … Continue reading →

Wednesday, April 6, 2011 "Flowers are beautiful, but people in the plant world eventually go to the dark side," Amy Stewart says. "We’re drawn to danger, to killers … or at least I am." Stewart’s fifth book, "Wicked Plants" (Algonquin; 2009), a darkly whimsical encyclopedia of poisonous plants, chronicles these … Continue reading →

Wednesday, April 6, 2011 San Francisco RPD invites you to enjoy fresh fruits and veggies at the Upper Haight’s Famers’ Market every Wednesdays from 4:00p.m. starting April 6th and going thru October 26th. The sun is shining, flowers are blooming, and the local farmers are friendly so come by Stanyan … Continue reading →

Tuesday, April 5, 2011 We’ve had more than our share of fun with Amy Stewart’s book, Wicked Plants: The Weedthat Killed Lincoln¹s Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities. Now the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park gets a turn at it. From April 7 through October 30, they … Continue reading →

Monday, April 4, 2011 The flora kingdom is a beautiful thing, but all that glitters is not gold. There are some truly evil flowers and plants out there in the big, bad world that have killed, injured and maimed unsuspecting victims. To warn the rest of us, local, award-winning author … Continue reading →

“As a dancer and teacher of Milonguero style tango, Ivan Shvarts is interested in how tango is a physical, emotional, and psychological dance that works out the body, the brain, and the soul. He believes that tango is about the maturity of movements rather than physical strength or frenetic motion, … Continue reading →

April 2011 Potrero View’s Southside: New Effort Launched to Revive Bayview Parks By Sasha Lekach A group of women from Bayview-Hunters Point have teamed up to start an advocacy group focusing on improving parks located in the City’s southside. Parks 94124, which was launched just two months ago, has already … Continue reading →

Wednesday, March 30, 2011 IN honor of President’s Day last month, Deb Winsor, a carpenter with a workshop in Brooklyn, led a crew in the construction of an 8-foot-wide model of the White House, complete with north and south porticos and two dozen hand-painted windows. News Source: The New York Times … Continue reading →

Wednesday, March 30, 2011 2. San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum, San Francisco, Calif. Every time, I head straight to the Garden of Fragrance and rub the leaves of scented plants, especially the pungent pelargonium that smell like chocolate, mint, and lemons. You are allowed, encouraged even, to touch … Continue reading →

Monday, March 28, 2011 The San Francisco Examiner’s March 23 article noting the decline in our city’s youth population is certainly troubling. Despite well-intended policy initiatives to improve the quality of life for San Francisco families, it hasn’t been enough to keep thousands from leaving The City in the last … Continue reading →

Monday, March 28, 2011 The San Francisco Examiner’s March 23 article noting the decline in our city’s youth population is certainly troubling. Despite well-intended policy initiatives to improve the quality of life for San Francisco families, it hasn’t been enough to keep thousands from leaving The City in the last … Continue reading →

Tuesday, March 22, 2011 As with Round 1, a representative for each applicant group must attend an Applicant Workshop. The COF team will provide an overview of the program and technical assistance at these workshops. They are scheduled as follows: Monday, March 21 6-7:30pm – Parque de los Ninos Unidos … Continue reading →

“Disc Golf is a sport similar to Golf. Rather than using clubs to get a ball into a hole, players throw discs into a basket. The goal of Disc Golf is to complete the hole in as few throws as possible. Similar to golf clubs there are many discs that … Continue reading →

KENSON MORRIS has been taking swim lessons with San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department since he was 4 years old. He has been though all the Red Cross levels 1 through 6. Kenson is now 6 yrs old and has 3 USA swimming meets under his belt. With each meet … Continue reading →

Muay Thai is a martial art from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese styles of kickboxing, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and Muay Lao from Laos. Descended from muay boran, Muay Thai is Thailand’s … Continue reading →

Here is some information for all ages who are learning about boarding sports for the first time. In all the types of boarding Sports you’re either “Regular” or “Goofy” foot. Regular and goofy Regular stance, regular foot or reg is standing with the left foot in front while skateboarding, surfing, … Continue reading →

Leisure Services Alternative Recreation has created beginning cooking classes for kids and adults with more classes to be added in the future. We would like to showcase the two chefs that are the instructors for our cooking classes. Sharon Lee and Craig Deppe. Sharon Lee, Chef and Owner, of “The … Continue reading →

Hey Kayakers! launching a kayak in San Francisco can be done at several locations throughout the city. Here are the most popular: 1. Islais Creek, SF. A useful launch site on the south east side of San Francisco. From here you can paddle south to Candlestick, or north to Pac … Continue reading →

Tuesday, March 15, 2011 Parents, summer is just around the corner. Why not have your child experience what thousands of kids do each summer? Rec and Park offers a variety of summer camps, including traditional camps like sports camps, Silver Tree and Pine Lake, and a number of new and … Continue reading →

Monday, March 14, 2011 Harvey Milk Photo Center invites photography enthusiasts to its newly-renovated facility located on top of Duboce Park in the heart of San Francisco. HMPC offers a wide-range of traditional and digital classes and workshops. Spring registration is now ongoing with prices at: $50 to $100. We … Continue reading →

Hello! After several weeks of selection process, the Recreation and Park Department has selected the team of RHAA / Hamilton + Aitken as the designers for the renovation of Mission Dolores Park. They’re ready to work and we look forward to our next big design meeting in late April. The … Continue reading →

Wednesday, March 9, 2011 Roller skating defeated Skid Row by just two votes in this week’s Let’s Go to the Morgue! audience choice event. I’m worried that the Supreme Court might get involved before the year is over. Skating won only after I included a few e-mail votes to the … Continue reading →

Dear Glen Canyon Park Stakeholders and Enthusiasts: We want your feedback on conceptual design options for the Glen Canyon Park Improvement Plan! The Trust for Public Land (TPL) is partnering with SF Recreation & Parks to vision and design a Park Improvement Plan for Glen Canyon Park. At the community … Continue reading →

Thursday, March 3, 2011 San Francisco Recreation and Parks is recruiting for several temporary openings at different levels of responsibility for our Summer Day Camps (mid May – mid August). If you are interested and have talents and skills you’d like to share with today’s youth, click the link below … Continue reading →

Monday, February 28, 2011 Let’s get ready to register! Spring registration is going on now. Rec and Park has a wide range of classes available for you and your family, including Adult Boot Camp, youth baseball, Spring Break camps, Caribbean Drumming and more! Sign up online or in person at … Continue reading →

Wednesday, February 23, 2011 Restoration of Laguna Salada Wetlands Would Help Protect SF Garter Snake and California Red-Legged Frog SAN FRANCISCO – A vision for Sharp Park could balance ecological and recreation objectives, according to findings released this week by a working group of land managers from local and federal … Continue reading →

Wednesday, February 23, 2011 Revenue from Non-Resident Fee on Pace to Bring $500K to Help Support Recreation and Parks SAN FRANCISCO– The newly instituted entrance fee paid by non-city resident visitors to San Francisco Botanical Garden is on pace to bring a half million dollars a year to the city’s … Continue reading →

Monday, February 21, 2011 Nobody knows more about graffiti than Joe Padilla. The paint-shop supervisor for the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, Padilla oversees graffiti removal for all of the city’s 220 parks… A San Francisco native, Padilla, 50, was baptized at Mission Dolores and grew up at 15th … Continue reading →

Monday, February 21, 2011 Nobody knows more about graffiti than Joe Padilla. The paint-shop supervisor for the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, Padilla oversees graffiti removal for all of the city’s 220 parks… A San Francisco native, Padilla, 50, was baptized at Mission Dolores and grew up at 15th … Continue reading →

Sunday, February 20, 2011 Dear Fellow Park Users: February is budget season for city departments, and as the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department moves through its budget planning for the upcoming Fiscal Year (2011-12), I want to take a few moments to let you know where we are and … Continue reading →

Friday, February 18, 2011 SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – A new, $117 million budget has been approved by San Francisco’s Recreation and Park Commission without any new service cuts or layoffs. It’s a “steady as you go” approach, with the department relying increasingly on revenue to make ends meet. Word that … Continue reading →

Thursday, February 17, 2011 Here’s another incentive, besides generous tax breaks, for Twitter and other companies to move into San Francisco’s blighted Mid-Market area. Every week, nouveau food trucks like Chairman Bao, Curry Up Now and Liba Falafel serve up a nourishing assortment of lunchtime street food in front of … Continue reading →

Thursday, February 17, 2011 Digi-U is a digital arts class created for a group of young adults who are part of the Community Access Training (CAT) program at Thurgood Marshal High School. The class was designed to give students an opportunity to explore different computer and internet software while developing … Continue reading →

Thursday, February 17, 2011 Here’s another incentive, besides generous tax breaks, for Twitter and other companies to move into San Francisco’s blighted Mid-Market area. Every week, nouveau food trucks like Chairman Bao, Curry Up Now and Liba Falafel serve up a nourishing assortment of lunchtime street food in front of … Continue reading →

Tuesday, February 15, 2011 SF Rec and Park is eager to institute a pilot program for recycling in Golden Gate Park beginning this spring, including spots such as the Conservatory of Flowers, Doughboy Meadow, Stow Lake and the Big Rec ball field. Read more: www.sfgate.com…

Tuesday, February 8, 2011, 10 – 11am From the Glen Park Association By Bonnee Waldstein Glen Park residents had a great opportunity on a spectacular Saturday, weather-wise, to hike for two hours through the major trails of the park, led by folks from the Department of Recreation and Parks, Department of Public … Continue reading →

Tuesday, February 8, 2011 From the Glen Park AssociationBy Bonnee Waldstein Glen Park residents had a great opportunity on a spectacular Saturday, weather-wise, to hike for two hours through the major trails of the park, led by folks from the Department of Recreation and Parks, Department of Public Works, and … Continue reading →

Golden Gate Park Sunday, February 6, 2011 In case you missed our community budget meetings, we’ve posted the presentation here. This is an opportunity for us to share with the public our initial budget outlook for FY 2011-12 and begin the dialogue about how we are looking to meet the … Continue reading →

Wednesday, February 2, 2011 The California Park and Recreation Society has awarded the Recreation and Park Department with its 2011 Award of Excellence for its awesome new website! Our new website is designed to make it easier for users to find what they’re looking for, including programs, volunteer opportunities and … Continue reading →

Tuesday, February 1, 2011 A new vendor won unanimous permission from the Board of Supervisors this afternoon to run the boat rental and food and beverage concession at the Stow Lake Boat House in Golden Gate Park. Old boat fleet will be replaced under new Stow Lake contract. New Mexico-based … Continue reading →

Monday, January 31, 2011 Read the January edition of Parks & Recreation Magazine, highlighting the need for ongoing partnerships with community organizations, allowing our parks to not only survive, but thrive." More info: www.nxtbook.com…

Monday, January 31, 2011 Read the January edition of Parks & Recreation Magazine, highlighting the need for ongoing partnerships with community organizations, allowing our parks to not only survive, but thrive." More info: www.nxtbook.com…

Sunday, January 30, 2011 The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department provides nearly 800,000 San Franciscans with essential opportunities to maintain healthy, active lifestyles. We maintain more than 200 neighborhood parks and playgrounds, and over 4,000 acres of recreational and open spaces. We care for more than 15 full-complex recreation … Continue reading →

The RPD/DPW project team has been hard at work selecting a designer to facilitate our upcoming community design meetings for Mission Dolores Park. Last week we interviewed three excellent local design teams and hope to have the selection results by the end of next week. We are so lucky to … Continue reading →

Friday, January 28, 2011 This short San Francisco Trail Video was produced for the Sutro Stewards Trail Program which is fiscally hosted by the San Francisco Parks Trust. Spider Dance Media is a local production company that specializes in open space, trail building, and other short documentaries, and we are … Continue reading →

Wednesday, January 26, 2011 SAN FRANCISCO– The San Francisco Board of Supervisors’ Budget and Finance Committee voted today to recommend to the full Board the approval of a lease agreement with award-winning concessionaire Ortega Family Enterprises to rejuvenate and operate the historic Stow Lake Boathouse in Golden GatePark. More info: campaign.r20.constantcontact.com…

Monday, January 24, 2011, 7 – 8pm ‎”The Parks of San Francisco: What’s in Store for our Urban Oases?” will air Monday, January 24, 2011 at 7:00p.m. on City Visions Radio, KALW 91.7 FM. Rec and Park GM Phil Ginsburg will be a guest, along with the Neighborhood Parks Council’s Meredith Thomas. … Continue reading →

Monday, January 24, 2011 Starting Monday, January 24th, 2011, park staff will begin grass renovation of the sports field in preparation for the Spring Season. We will be working to improve field conditions and surface quality. More info: sfrecpark.org…

Saturday, January 15, 2011 Saturdays 7AM to 8AM, Hooked on Golf will be hosting their live show inside the Cypress Grill at TPC Harding Park. Come out to visit with Mitch and John, and order up our special "HOG Breakfast Slam" for $6.80, in honor of our partner KNBR. Questions…Call … Continue reading →

Saturday, January 15, 2011 This is your opportunity to grab merchandise at a great price, and find out more information on upcoming PlaygroundA Tour events in the Bay Area such as the Fresh Express Classic at TPC Stonebrae and the Charles Schwab Cup Championship here at TPC Harding Park.Questions…Call PlaygroundA … Continue reading →

501 Stanyan Street San Francisco, CA 94117 Friday, January 14, 2011 Register for the 2011 Summer Camp Mather lottery today! Get registration information online at sfrecpark.org. Registration runs through February 4, 2011. During each session of camp, there are many activities for all age groups. We have swimming, arts & … Continue reading →

501 Stanyan StreetSan Francisco, CA 94117 Friday, January 14, 2011 Register for Winter 2011 classes today! You can register online at sfrecpark.org or in person at 501 Stanyan Street. Winter classes run through March 12, 2011. This winter, we have exciting classes for you and your family, including kayaking, ski … Continue reading →

Friday, January 14, 2011 The fence is coming down! You’re invited to join the Maybeck Foundation and San Francisco Recreation and Parks in celebrating the completion of the Restoration of the Palace of Fine Arts on Friday, January 14, 2011, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. More than